Thomas Keller opened Per Se in February 2004 on the 4th floor of what is now the Deutsche Bank Center (formerly Time Warner Center) at 10 Columbus Circle — Adam D. Tihany-designed, a distinctive blue entrance door echoing The French Laundry's iconic version. Three Michelin stars held continuously across 20 years since the inaugural 2006 NYC guide, Forbes Five-Star since 2005, Wine Spectator Grand Award since 2013, Relais & Châteaux and Les Grandes Tables du Monde membership. The 9-course Chef's Tasting ($425, with a parallel Vegetable Tasting and a $185 Salon option) anchors signatures: Oysters and Pearls (pearl-tapioca sabayon with Island Creek oysters and osetra caviar), Salmon Cornets, Coffee and Donuts; a $1,000 Long Tasting extends the experience. Chad Palagi is the 4th Chef de Cuisine (Benno → Kaimeh → Chow → Palagi), having returned after a 2017-2024 run as CdC at Michelin-starred Rich Table SF. Per Se's credentials are Keller's own — he's owner-chef on his own restaurant, not pedigree carried from elsewhere. Notably absent from World's 50 Best and North America's 50 Best; the marquee defense is 20-year Michelin continuity. For NYC's continuous 3-Michelin-star haute-French tasting institution.